Northrop's electric laser to take on missiles, drones

Redondo Beach, Calif:  One of the world's largest defence contractors US giant, Northrop Grumman Corp. has said it has developed an electric laser that will generate enough power to shoot down hostile missiles and drones.

Though work has been progressing in laboratories around the world to develop such capabilities, generating such power is yet unheard of.

Northrop Grumman's laser weapon system demonstrator for the U.S. military's Joint High Power Solid State Laser program, Phase 3.The announcement is also significant in that it would change the way militaries will respond to various kinds of threats from land, sea and air if powered with such capabilities.

"The laser has a mix of very unique traits of high-interest for the military," Dan Wildt, vice president of Northrop's directed energy systems program said. The beam can travel at the speed of light, offer ultra-high precision to limit collateral damage and engage a target instantly, he noted.

Los Angeles-based Northrop is one of two companies creating this kind of electric powered device with the other company also developing similar capabilities being Textron Inc.

According to Northrop the beam of light its laser generated was equivalent to 105 kilowatts -or 1,000 100-watt light bulbs focused on a small spot.